Truck owners are a versatile bunch. Some people rely on their truck for their livelihood while others occasionally haul the boat or trailer to the lake and back. Others use their truck as a massive blinking beacon for their macho-ness, and haul the occasional bags of sand or mulch to justify it. But by and large, most truck owners do a little of everything and lucky for them, the 2013 Ram 1500 lineup has something for everybody.

The 2013 Ram lineup ranges from $22,585 for a base Tradesman model all the way up to $48,415 for a 4×4 Laramie Longhorn crew cab. In between lurks the Tradesman, Express, SLT (the biggest mover volume-wise), Big Horn, Outdoorsman, Sport, Laramie, Longhorn, and finally, of course, the Limited trim. Each model offers a different level of versatility, with some preferring the work site more than others. As for the ultra-luxe trim levels destined to favor hauling people more than cargo, the 2013 Ram 1500 redefines what the luxury pick-up truck is too.

To really see what the latest Ram had to offer, we traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to test out an array of models, and even tow a thing or two as well. During our time down south, we had the opportunity to traverse some back-road hill country, highways, and even some small country roads that slinked through towns inhabited with more cows than humans. But while we were confident the Ram would do all the truck-stuff right, we wondered: With the focus on efficiency these days, can the 2013 Ram 1500’s new Pentastar V-6 compete against the Ford EcoBoost’s fuel economy? Here’s what we found.

Read more: http://www.automotive.com/dodge/ram-1500/2013/first-drive/#ixzz26vEL9hZv